Asking Y'all Your Opinions On Roosters

[La_TomboyGirl]

Thanks! All this info is great! Keep it coming! I'm going to send her a link to this thread so she can read it herself. Oh, & like I said, I love Cochins, & actually, they have become my fave breed, so I'm in the Cochin roo school of thought too!

 

[gryeyes]

My roo was an accidental one, with my first batch o' 8 chicks. So he grew up with most of my pullets (actually, I thought he was ONE of them). He was not the top of the pecking order until he roostered out. He's a gentleman rooster.
He shows the girls where to find goodies, he always stands back when I'm giving treats - I have to toss some his way, and he still will back off to let a hen eat first. If they're too busy with the treats in the palm of my hand, he'll eat what I've tossed to him.

He makes the most amazing sounds, not just crowing! Sometimes he sounds like he's growling. Sometimes he churdles so endearingly. He clucks, too. Oh, lots of lovely sounds.

Plus, he's pretty. Errrr, handsome. REALLY handsome.

If I ever lost him, I'd want another roo - hopefully one as nice as him.

 

[La_TomboyGirl]

Quote:
Wow! He sounds great. What kind is he? Mine does all the exact things you described - letting the girls eat the treats, sweet, growling (but it's like a coaxing sound, not a threatening one, I think. Mine does it when he shows the girls a place to lay.) I was disappointed when my blue Cochin "pullet" turned roo, but now 2 years later, I'm sooooo glad! He's awesome & interesting.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
I agree. Let her find what breed appeals to her, then add the rooster of that breed later. I originally was dead set against having a rooster. (due to the bad reputation roosters have) I now have a welsummer rooster, and I really love having him around. He's a fantastic protector of the ladies, warning them to danger, finding them treats, etc.

 

[WilczenskiFarm]

Not to hijack the thread... but how do I convince my DH to try out a cochin roo? I love the idea of it, I'm sure my girls would benefit especially when free ranging (we supervise, but I've heard stories of hens being carried away by hawks with people standing less than 10 feet away), and I'd make sure our neighbors were ok with giving it a go...
but he's still reluctant

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Buy straight run and by the time you know it's a roo, maybe he'll be attached to it?

 

[triggfamily5]

I love reading everyone's personal experience...

I HATE my cochin roo (3+ yrs old)!! I wish DH would let me put him on the rotisserie. He is mean, mean, mean.... and I don't mean to the hens.

My Red Star roo (5+ yrs old) is sweet and docile.

I have had a group of EE roo's, some were nice, some were mean, but b/c DH wouldn't get rid of his cochin, had to get rid of all the other roo's (too many roo's). I think the cochin and the red star have a permanent spot here. That's going to change when my teenagers integrate though. I have a LB roo in there, and so far, he is sweet. I also have 3 BBR cubulayas roos. Who knows how many others, but I want a fresh roo or two in my flock as my roos aren't fertilizing anymore.

I think they are great protectors when they are out and about. It's a natural thing for me. I have never, in my 5+ years of chickens, "needed" a rooster. This year was the first year I dabbled in incubation and would have loved to had fertile eggs.

I agree, go with her gut feeling. If she wants one get a roo with her chicks, that way they are raised together and might be more friendly and docile.

 

[gwill23]

Well when I just started out a few months ago. I was advised not to get one. My hens free range all day unsupervised in our rual area and I didn't want them to stay all spread out. So a friend gave me a RIR roo and he was great. One day he didn't come home though and I still had all my hens. ie. he must have done his job. Protected the girls.

The girls are much quieter now that he is gone. However, I have 38 eggs on the way 14 overdue by 2 days and 24 due in another week or so.

I would add a new roo if I could find one close I could go pick up.

 

[chickenlady08]

I started with a RIR rooster in 2008 and the first few months he was great. Then it was like a switch turned on and he started attacking all of us. I loved Jake but I had 25 babies that were going to be in the coop soon and we had 1 Delaware rooster that we purchased and raised from a day old. I had to find a home for Jake because he was nasty. He was mean to us and my son and I were afraid to go into the coops (but I think had we raised him from a day old then it may have been different)

Well when we got our babies in March 2009 they were all friendly and sweet and of course we couldn't tell one from the other but soon enough it was quite noticable and we named him Jack. Well Jack became lame and couldn't walk or even stand so I brought him from outside and put him in the garage. It was nearly 3 months before he was able to go back out to the coop again. Well he was a really sweet caring gentleman up until a month ago. He first chased my son and tried to attack him but I got him away from him. Next he got my daughter and he punctured her thigh and bruised her bad. He go me the same day in my heal of all places. It has just now healed up. LAst Friday he attacked my friend while we were outside trying to catch my Leghorn Jill because she had a bloody comb. Well then he turned his sights on me. Luckily I had my knee high boots on because I literally had to kick him across the pen because he would not let up and wouldn't let me leave the pen.

I have another rooster 'JJ' and he is from my original RIR 'Jake' and a Red Star 'Momma'. He is 9 months old and while he isn't very friendly he is quite nice and treats my girls better than Jack does.

I really am not sure what to do about my aggressive boy. I love him after all I did for him to help him get better, but it is still hard to watch him rip the girls back open and be just outright mean.

I like having a rooster in my flock, esp since my husband picked out hens that tend to go broody regularly.

I have heard that the Buff Orpington roosters are very nice and docile. I want one but am afraid to bring one in with my meanie.

Tell ur friend good luck.

 

[Mervin]

Quote:
Buy straight run and by the time you know it's a roo, maybe he'll be attached to it?

When I brought home our wellies I could tell by the eyeliner and headspot that one of ours was clearly a roo. I didn't let on though. The wife took to that one and started calling him Biscuit. She didn't even bat an eyelash when he sprouted a comb and wattles. She was even phased when his brother gravy did the same (he was a surprise though).